Installing External Return Pump

[kirkwood]

My sump is not drilled for an external return pump. The sump is acrylic. How hard is it and what would I need to drill a hole? I guess I could take it somewhere, but I'm trying to avoid removing it from my tank.

Once the hole is drilled, what is needed to install the pump?

 

[purplegorilla]

You will need this.

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-piece-carbon-steel-hole-saw-set-68115.html">http://www.harborfreight.com/18-piece-carbon-steel-hole-saw-set-68115.html</a>

However I would buy an additional 1/4 acrylic from HD and glue it to where you want to drill so you can reinforce the area when installing the bulkhead.

 

[kirkwood]

any videos out there?

 

[kirkwood]

I did find this video from Vivid which is helpful.

<div class="gc_ifarem_title">Drill Acrylic Sump and Connect External Pump - YouTube</div>

 

[joseayes]

IMO be really carefully on drilling, acrylic could melt at the moment your drilling, if drill to fast it could crack too. Some time ago Rit, at Atlanta Aquarium was able to tell me that I could borrow a diamond bit from him, I actually end up not needing it, may be you can ask him, I have two bits but I guess you need at least 1 inch bit. BTW, I saw you post that you were looking for an external pump, what did you end up with? I own two Iwaki Japanese motor rated for pressure, I guess RLT40 if you need them

 

[kirkwood]

joseayes;825246 wrote: IMO be really carefully on drilling, acrylic could melt at the moment your drilling, if drill to fast it could crack too. Some time ago Rit, at Atlanta Aquarium was able to tell me that I could borrow a diamond bit from him, I actually end up not needing it, may be you can ask him, I have two bits but I guess you need at least 1 inch bit. BTW, I saw you post that you were looking for an external pump, what did you end up with? I own two Iwaki Japanese motor rated for pressure, I guess RLT40 if you need them

I'm picking up the iwaki rlxt japanese motor tomorrow from another ARCer.